Fence-clamp.



E. LOVE. FENGB GLAMP. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 16, 1909.

Patented 1160.51910A Eggarlaz', SW2/wm,

EDGAR LOVE, 0F DARLINGTON, INDIANA.

FENCE-CLAMP.

emacs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

Application lcd November 16, 1909. Serial No. 528,384.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, EDGAR LOVE, citizen of the United States, residing at Darlington, in the county of Montgomery and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful F ence-Clamp, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement i in fence-clamps, and more especially to that class which is employed in connection with Woven wire fences, the clamp being used to grip the Wire during the stretching of the same.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a clamp of the character described, which can be easily and quickly applied to, or detached from a fence, irrespective of its height.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamp for the purpose described, which is composed of a minimum number of parts, is therefore simple in construction, is positive in operation, and is cheap to manufacture.

lVith these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacricing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing :-Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention, showing the same applied to a woven wire fence. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 3H?) of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line Ll-of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the base plate.

Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, the invention is preferably formed of metal, and comprises substantially V-shaped clamping members 6-6 which are adapted to be arranged transversely of a woven wire fence 7 and on opposite sides thereof, the members being arranged one within the other, as shown by reference to Fig. 4 of the drawing.

The invention further comprises substantially a gripping means for forcing the,

two clamping members together to grip the wire, and inasmuch as two or more separate means are employed, the description of one will suiiice. A base plate 8 is provided with preferably substantially T-shaped spaced openings 9, each opening including a vertical branch and a communicating horizontal branch, the said horizontal branches extending in the same direction from the vertical branches. The plate 8 is furthermore provided near the end opposite the horizontal branches with an opening 11, through which a chain 12 is passed and secured to the plate, the said chain being connected at the other end to a wire stretcher (not shown) of any suitable construction. This plate is arranged transversely of, and bears directly against the base of the inner clamping member, the T-shaped openings being arranged on either side of the said members.

The invention further comprises a stirrup which is preferably formed of links 13-13 which are pivotally connected to a cam 14 by a lpin 15, and are preferably provided with enlarged T-shaped heads 16k-16, the said links being arranged on either side of the clamping members. The heads are first ins serted into the vertical branches ofthe openings 9 of the base-plate, and then shifted over into the horizontal branches. It will be readily seen that during the stretching operation, the stirrup and base plate will be held in locked relation by the pull of the stretching means. The cam is provided with a grooved working-face 16, which is adapted to engage the apex of the outer clamping member. The cani is also provided with an integral depending handle 17 which is also provided with a groove 18 adapted to engage the apex of the said clamping member when the cam is in a locked position. The grooved cam engaging the apex of the outer clamping member serves to prevent the displacement or twisting of the cam. relative to the outer clamping member when the stretching operation is in progress.

From the foregoing, it will be readily observed that after the clamping members are arranged transversely of and at either side of the fence fabric, one or more baseplates are positioned against the base of the inner clamping member, and a stirrup is connected to each base-plate as before described, t-he cam being positioned to engage the apeX of the outer member. Thus, it will be seen that by manipulating the cam, the base-plate and consequently the inner clamping member will be drawn toward the outer member. Upon the completion of the movement, the Wire-fabric Will not only be crimped between the clamping members, but Will also be securely clamped thereby. It Will also be noted that the base-plate, not only forms a part of the clamping ineans, but forms a connecting means for the chain of the Wire-stretcher; thus the pull from the stretcher is placed directly on the base-plate and indirectly upon the clampingmembers This construction readily permits of the clamp to be adjusted to accommodate different sized fabrics, and also permits of the same to be readily clamped to or disengaged from a fabric.

that I claim ist- 1. A device of the class described, comprising parallel clamping members, a plurality of spaced base plates extending across and adjustable along the inner member, stirrups embracing the members and having their free ends detachably connected to the base plates, cams connected to the other ends 'of the stirrups and adapted to operate against the outer clamping member for drawing the said members together, and means connected to each base plate for attaching a Wire stretcher, said stirrups and base plates being held in locked relation by the pull of the stretching means.

2. A device of the class described comprising clamping members, a base plate engaging one of the members and having one end extending beyond the same, a stirrup embracing the members and having its free ends detachably connected to the base plate, and a cam connected to the other end of the stirrup and adapted to operate against the other clamping member for drawing said members together, said extended end of the baseplate providing means for attaching a Wire stretching device, said stirrup and base plate being held in locked relation by the pull of the stretching means.

3. A device of the class described, comprising substantially V -shaped clamping members arranged one Within the other, a base-plate engaging the base of the inner member and including spaced and substantially T-shaped openings, a cam engaging the apex of the outer member, and links pivotally connected to the cam and detachably connected to the base-plate through the spaced openings thereof for drawing the clamping members together upon the movement of the said cam.

4. A device of the class described, com prising substantially V shaped clamping members arranged one Within the other, a base-plate engaging the base ofthe inner member, and including spaced and substantially T-shaped horizontal openings, a cam engaging the apex of the outer member and provided With a grooved Working edge, links pivotally connected tothe cam and detachably connected to the base-plate through the spaced openings thereof for drawing the clamping members together upon the movement of the said cam, said links being provided at their free ends With enlarged heads adapted to engage the openings of the baseplate, and means secured to the base-plate for attaching a Wire stretcher.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

Y EDGAR LOVE.

Witnesses AL HOPKINS, JOHN SToUfr. 

